Polyethylene oxide–polyacrylic acid–folic acid (PEO‐PAAc) nanogel as a ^99mTc targeting receptor for cancer diagnostic imaging

Abstract

Nanoparticles are frequently used as targeting delivery systems for therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. Polyethylene oxide-polyacrylic acid (PEO-PAAc) nanogel was prepared via γ-radiation-induced polymerization. Variable factors affecting nanoparticles size were investigated. The nanogel was radiolabeled with the imaging radioisotope 99m Tc and finally conjugated with folic acid to target folate receptor actively. PEO-PAAc-folic acid gel was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biodistribution was studied in normal mice and solid tumor-bearing mice via intravenous and intratumor injections of the radiolabeled PEO-PAAc-folic acid nanogel. Results of biodistribution showed high selective uptake of the prepared complex in tumor muscle compared with normal muscle for both intravenous and intratumor injections. The T/NT ratio was found to be 6.186 and 294.5 for intravenous and intratumor injections, respectively. Consequently, 99m Tc-PEO-PAAc-folic acid complex could be a promising agent for cancer diagnostic imaging.

Exploring the Potential of Nanogels: From Drug Carriers to Radiopharmaceutical Agents

“…In the same year, Soliman et al reported synthesis of polyethylene oxide-polyacrylic acid (PEO-PAA) based nanogels using 𝛾-radiation induced polymerization strategy. [226] The PEO-PAA nanogels were radiolabeled with technetium-99m without any chelator and folic acid was electrostatically bound to the radiolabeled nanogels forming 98 nm [ 99m Tc]Tc-PEO-PAA-folic acid particles. Effect of radiation dose, composition and concentrations of the reactants was investigated.…”

Acrylate and Methacrylate Polymers’ Applications: Second Life with Inexpensive and Sustainable Recycling Approaches

“…Soliman et al developed a cancer diagnostic imaging device based on polyethylene oxide–PAA nanogel, which is radio-labeled with the imaging radioisotope 99 mTc (metastable nuclear isomer of technetium-99) and then conjugated with folic acid, which act as targeting agent. Biodistribution data indicated a high selective uptake of the prepared complex in cancer muscle respect to the healthy one for both intratumor and intravenous injections, highlighting its potentiality as nanotheranostic device [ 132 ].…”

“To Be or Not to Be” of a Polymer Nanogel—Unravelling the Relationship of Product Properties vs. Synthesis Conditions Governing the Radiation Crosslinking of Poly(acrylic acid) Using GPC/SEC—MALLS

“…Radiation-synthesized nanogels, extensively tested as nanocarriers of drugs, genes and radioisotopes [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31], can be brought as another excellent example, and various polymers, such as pullulan [32], PVP [33][34][35][36], chitosan and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) [37], have been exploited with success for this purpose. PAA in particular is a very interesting polymer for biomedical applications, due to its biocompatibility and the contained -COOH groups, enabling the bioconjugation of selected ligands and "smart" drug delivery as a result of changes in the pH of the environment [38].…”